Bill Bryson bestseller A Short History of Nearly Everything is being reimagined as an animated TV series by former The Simpsons showrunner Josh Weinstein and Paddington scribe Jason Hazeley, with Richard Ayoade narrating.
Altitude and Brouhaha Entertainment are forging the series version of a book that has sold 15 million copies worldwide and been translated into 50 languages, with a view to turning it into a long-running entertainment franchise.
Published two decades ago, the book sees celebrated writer Bryson take on popular science by tackling issues such as the size of the universe and the development of the human race, and setting them out in layman’s terms. A large part of the book is devoted to relating humorous stories about the scientists behind the research and their sometimes eccentric behaviours. Narrated by Ayoade, the animation will tell these stories spanning centuries and continents, time and space, and the abstract and the real,...
Altitude and Brouhaha Entertainment are forging the series version of a book that has sold 15 million copies worldwide and been translated into 50 languages, with a view to turning it into a long-running entertainment franchise.
Published two decades ago, the book sees celebrated writer Bryson take on popular science by tackling issues such as the size of the universe and the development of the human race, and setting them out in layman’s terms. A large part of the book is devoted to relating humorous stories about the scientists behind the research and their sometimes eccentric behaviours. Narrated by Ayoade, the animation will tell these stories spanning centuries and continents, time and space, and the abstract and the real,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The doc is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
Oscar-winning UK director Kevin Macdonald is teaming with Altitude and broadcaster ITV for a feature documentary that delves intothe UK’s ICU wards during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The One Day In September director is working with Canadian film producer Lawrence Elman and founder of BBC’s Storyville strand Nick Fraser on The Year That Changed Britain (working title).
The documentary is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
ITV controller of factual Jo Clinton Davis and head...
Oscar-winning UK director Kevin Macdonald is teaming with Altitude and broadcaster ITV for a feature documentary that delves intothe UK’s ICU wards during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The One Day In September director is working with Canadian film producer Lawrence Elman and founder of BBC’s Storyville strand Nick Fraser on The Year That Changed Britain (working title).
The documentary is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
ITV controller of factual Jo Clinton Davis and head...
- 11/6/2020
- by Hannah Bowler Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
ITV has commissioned Covid-19 documentary “The Year That Changed Britain” with Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald directing, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film will attempt to tell the story of the pandemic’s impact on Britain through the intimate personal and professional experiences of those who lived through it. Producers have secured “unprecedented” access to intensive care units across the country — from the Whittington Hospital in London to the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire. The film begins before the pandemic became a worldwide medical emergency and stretches through full lockdown, into the peak of the crisis and beyond.
“The Year That Changed Britain,” which is a working title, is a co-production between Lawrence Elman and former BBC Storyville commissioner Nick Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media. The film will be released in U.K. and Irish cinemas by Altitude Film Distribution in 2021.
Macdonald’s film credits include “One Day in September,...
The film will attempt to tell the story of the pandemic’s impact on Britain through the intimate personal and professional experiences of those who lived through it. Producers have secured “unprecedented” access to intensive care units across the country — from the Whittington Hospital in London to the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire. The film begins before the pandemic became a worldwide medical emergency and stretches through full lockdown, into the peak of the crisis and beyond.
“The Year That Changed Britain,” which is a working title, is a co-production between Lawrence Elman and former BBC Storyville commissioner Nick Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media. The film will be released in U.K. and Irish cinemas by Altitude Film Distribution in 2021.
Macdonald’s film credits include “One Day in September,...
- 11/6/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Altitude Media Group, the UK outfit run by Will Clarke that works across production, distribution and sales, has officially opened a natural history-focused factual wing that will make film and TV docs.
Former Channel 4 exec Paul Sowerbutts joined the company late last year to drive the move into non-fiction content, taking up the role of MD, Altitude Factual. Joining him is Jeremy Bradshaw as head of Natural History.
Last month, Altitude received a significant investment from Neon-backed 30West, which saw the U.S. outfit take a minatory stake in the Brit company.
The opening of the factual unit follows Altitude’s success with distributing doc content, including Asif Kapadia’s Amy and Diego Maradona, and Louis Theroux’s My Scientology Movie. The company also handles event cinema releases and has the upcoming one-night engagement of David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet on April 16 in conjunction with WWF and Silverback Film.
Former Channel 4 exec Paul Sowerbutts joined the company late last year to drive the move into non-fiction content, taking up the role of MD, Altitude Factual. Joining him is Jeremy Bradshaw as head of Natural History.
Last month, Altitude received a significant investment from Neon-backed 30West, which saw the U.S. outfit take a minatory stake in the Brit company.
The opening of the factual unit follows Altitude’s success with distributing doc content, including Asif Kapadia’s Amy and Diego Maradona, and Louis Theroux’s My Scientology Movie. The company also handles event cinema releases and has the upcoming one-night engagement of David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet on April 16 in conjunction with WWF and Silverback Film.
- 3/4/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Altitude Media Group has launched new division Altitude Factual to create long-running TV series and feature-length documentaries focusing on the natural and human worlds with strong family appeal.
Natural history and factual programming executive Paul Sowerbutts will head the new unit. Sowerbutts, the former head of Channel 4 International and Diverse Productions, has overseen such projects as “Touching the Void” and “Bear Grylls – Man vs Wild.” He is also currently executive producing Otto Bell’s forthcoming feature “The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu.”
Jeremy Bradshaw, founder of Tigress Prods., joins Altitude Factual as head of natural history. Bradshaw’s credits include “In the Wild” and “Saving Planet Earth.”
The launch of Altitude Factual follows 30West’s investment in Altitude Media Group and the studio’s production partnership with L.A.-based Soluble Fish Prods.
Off the back of a number of successful U.K. and Irish live events, Altitude is expanding its event cinema operations internationally,...
Natural history and factual programming executive Paul Sowerbutts will head the new unit. Sowerbutts, the former head of Channel 4 International and Diverse Productions, has overseen such projects as “Touching the Void” and “Bear Grylls – Man vs Wild.” He is also currently executive producing Otto Bell’s forthcoming feature “The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu.”
Jeremy Bradshaw, founder of Tigress Prods., joins Altitude Factual as head of natural history. Bradshaw’s credits include “In the Wild” and “Saving Planet Earth.”
The launch of Altitude Factual follows 30West’s investment in Altitude Media Group and the studio’s production partnership with L.A.-based Soluble Fish Prods.
Off the back of a number of successful U.K. and Irish live events, Altitude is expanding its event cinema operations internationally,...
- 3/4/2020
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
New arm to be led by Paul Sowerbutts.
The UK’s Altitude Media Group has launched a new division to produce natural history and documentary series and features, led by former Diverse Productions chief Paul Sowerbutts.
Altitude Factual will create long-running television series and feature-length documentaries focusing on the natural and human worlds with strong family appeal.
The London-based independent production, international sales and distribution company has previously been involved with award-winning documentaries including Amy, Whitney, Diego Maradona, My Scientology Movie and Liam Gallagher: As It Was.
Sowerbutts will lead the division as managing director. He was previously managing director of Channel 4 Rights,...
The UK’s Altitude Media Group has launched a new division to produce natural history and documentary series and features, led by former Diverse Productions chief Paul Sowerbutts.
Altitude Factual will create long-running television series and feature-length documentaries focusing on the natural and human worlds with strong family appeal.
The London-based independent production, international sales and distribution company has previously been involved with award-winning documentaries including Amy, Whitney, Diego Maradona, My Scientology Movie and Liam Gallagher: As It Was.
Sowerbutts will lead the division as managing director. He was previously managing director of Channel 4 Rights,...
- 3/4/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: New York Times bestseller The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu is getting a documentary adaptation with director Otto Bell (The Eagle Huntress) and producers Argent Pictures (Chasing Coral), Idil Ibrahim (Fishing Without Nets) and fledgling UK outfit Cove Pictures.
Written by Joshua Hammer, the book, released in April 2017, follows the true story of a group of librarians who undertook a daring cultural evacuation to save ancient texts from Al Qaeda.
The documentary, which due to security concerns has been shot secretly over more than a year in Mali, Africa, focuses on the 300 days of jihadi occupation – from April 2012 to January 2013 – when the infamous Saharan city fell under Al Qaeda’s control. It hones in on a small group of scholars, led by Abdel Kader Haidara, who fearing for the future of their precious manuscripts, transformed themselves into a gang of world-class smugglers. Amid life-and-death stakes, they sneak thousands of books...
Written by Joshua Hammer, the book, released in April 2017, follows the true story of a group of librarians who undertook a daring cultural evacuation to save ancient texts from Al Qaeda.
The documentary, which due to security concerns has been shot secretly over more than a year in Mali, Africa, focuses on the 300 days of jihadi occupation – from April 2012 to January 2013 – when the infamous Saharan city fell under Al Qaeda’s control. It hones in on a small group of scholars, led by Abdel Kader Haidara, who fearing for the future of their precious manuscripts, transformed themselves into a gang of world-class smugglers. Amid life-and-death stakes, they sneak thousands of books...
- 8/27/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
LONDON -- Channel Four International head Paul Sowerbutts has quit the broadcaster to be managing director at independent producer Diverse Prods., it was announced Monday. Sowerbutts, who led Channel Four's broadcast sales and rights exploitation division for four years, will return to his program-making background and spearhead Diverse's expansion strategy. He will leave Channel Four after next week's MIPCOM television sales market. Channel Four reps said the broadcaster will begin looking for a replacement as soon as possible and that C4I's head of consumer products Mike Morris and head of program sales Christina Willoughby will temporarily take over his duties. Sowerbutts said his departure is tied to the raft of new opportunities opening up for independent producers. "The explosion of digital television, the retention of rights by U.K. independents and the growth of a genuinely international television market offers great opportunities," he said.
- 9/28/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Channel 4 International, distribution arm of the U.K.'s Channel 4, will distribute HBO documentaries internationally in a deal with HBO Enterprises announced on Wednesday. More than 250 titles from HBO Original Progamming are covered in the deal, which commences March 1 and gives Channel 4 International distribution rights outside the United Kingdom, and North and Latin America. Titles include One Year in the Life of Crime and 4 Little Girls, plus new programs including The Iceman and the Psychiatrist, about a serial killer; Cathouse, about a Nevada brothel; and Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives. Paul Sowerbutts, managing director, Channel 4 International, and Charles Schreger, president of international distribution for HBO Enterprises negotiated the deal. No financial details were disclosed. "Channel 4 is one of the best factual distributors worldwide and we are confident they will do a good job with our catalog," Schreger said. Sowerbutts said, "There are fewer and fewer producers worldwide taking the sort of editorial and journalistic risks that HBO does as a matter of course in its program making and we are immensely proud to represent them."...
- 2/25/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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